Seal-lock.



J. T. HUNTER.

SEAL LOOK.

APPLICATION rum) APR. 20, 1008.

947,528, Patented Jan. 25, 1910.

figiw f I v 7. 5 WW, VLtOC WQWW J JAMES T. HUNTER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

SEAL-LOCK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 25, 1910.

Application filed April 20, 1908. Serial No. 428,263.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES '1. HUNTER, a citizen of the United States, and resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Seal- Locks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to spring latches, and the object is to provide a spring latch with a seal which will not only prevent the same from being maliciously and surreptitiously opened, but also record the name of the party sealing the latch, the time, date and place of sealing.

Referring to the drawing: Figure 1, is a plan view of a latch showing my device for sealing the same. Fig. 2, is a bottom view of the latch, showing the under side of the seal with the label or record slip attached. Fig. 3, is the side view of part of a cover with latch attached, and partly in section, to show how the device for sealing passes over the latch lever and through the atch, and how the label or record slip is applied. Fig. 4, is another plan view of a latch, showing my sealing device. Fig. 5, is a sectional view of Fig. at, on line :v w.

The style of the latch is immaterial, so long as it relates to what is known as the spring latch. Therefore I have only shown a. simple construction which briefly consists of the sliding latch-bar 2, casing 3, and topplate 5, and bottom plate 21. The sliding bar 2, slides in holes in the supporting lugs t and ('3, extending from the top plate and is held in one direction outward by the spiral spring 7. This latch-bar is operated in one direction inward by the lever 9, which is fulcrumed to the top plate on a suitable pin. The outer or long arm of this lever, in this construction, is shown ring-shape, but this is not important for the arm may and can consist of a straight bar. The short arm 12, of the lever, acts against the latch-bar 2 (see Fig. 5), to move the same inward when the lever is raised, as shown in dotted lines,

.Fig. 5. To place the long arm of the lever below the top surface of the top plate of the latch, so that it will notbein the way when lying down to obstruct the top of the same, I form a recess or depression 13, in the said top plates (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4), which should be at one end larger than the lever or ring arm of the lever, so that the same can be quickly or easily reached tobe lifted or raised. The latch is fastened in any suitable manner to the cover 18, of the box 19. The latter being provided with the usual staple 30, to receive the latch-bar (see Fig. 5).

Latches of this self-acting or looking order can be laced, not only upon the lid or covers of ones, but upon a safe door, house doors, drawers, trunks, milk cans, covers, the doors of freight cars, &c., as I do not limit myself to the use to which a spring latch may be assigned. The latch, however, being a spring latch, it is possible to seal down the longer arm of the operating lever before the cover, or drawer, or door is shut down or closed, and this I accomplish by a cord or ribbon of any character, or by a wire cord or rope 20, which is placed over the lever arm, and the free ends thereof passed through suitable holes in the top and bottom plates, down through latch outside, same on the inner or under side (see Figs. 1, 2 and 3). If wire cord is used the ends outside the latch are twisted together (see dotted lines, Fig. 2). If ordinary 'cord or ribbon is used, then the ends can be tied together in any manner, knot or how. When the wire rope is twisted or the cord tied, the lever cannot be raised on the outside to release the latch-bar without cutting the said cord, ribbon or wire, and if severed by persons not authorized to do so, will show that the latch has been tampered with. To record the name of the person who thus sealed the latch, and also keep account of the time and place, I cover the twisted or tied ends of the wire or cord, or ribbon, with a label of any shape, size or material and held to the latch by any well known adhesive substance. Upon this label is printed or written the name of the person sealing, and the time and place same was sealed.

The above relates to scaling the latch on the inner or under side; but I am aware that the lever can be sealed from the outside of the latch; (see Figs. 4 and 5). In that case the cord, or ribbon or wire rope designated 27, is first passed through one of the holes in the top and bottom plates across bottom plate and thence up through the other hole in the top and bottom plate, one of the ends passing over lever arm and the two ends held or locked together by sealing wax, or it may pass through a lead sea-l 24, which is then pressed together, in order to clench the wires or cords. In some cases the wire Y is attached to lead seal and the free end 5, to hold the ends of the cord or ribbon or assed over lever arm through and across 'ottom of latch and thence twice through lead seal; (see Fig. 5,) and the same seal compressed. The lead seal when being compressed can have stamped thereon the crsons name, or initial, or the time and p ace of sealing.

In place of the label shown in Figs. 13,.

I can use the lead or wax seal shown in Fig.

ing said bar inwardly and means for moving said bar outwardly.

2. In a seal lock the combination of a top plate, a bottom plate; means for holding said plates together and apart, said top plate provided on the outside with a recess, and on the under-side with lugs having holes, a sliding latch bar, moving between said plates, and supported and sliding in the holes of the said lugs, a spiral sprmg actin against said latch bar in order to move saidliar in one direction, outwardly, means for moving said latch bar inwardly.

3. In a seal lock the combination of a top plate, a bottom plate, means for holding said plates spaced apart, said top plate provided I with a recess on its upper surface and underside supporting lugs with holes, a latch bar sliding between said plates and within or through the holes in the said supporting lugs, a spiral spring placed between the said plates so as to act against the said latch bar states to move said latch bar outwardly a lever fulcrumed on the said top plate, said lever comprising an outer or long member, and a short member, said long member located on the outside of the said top plateand intended when depressed to lie in the recess of thesaid top plate, said short member extending through an openin in said top plate, and operating between t e said plates and against said latch bar in order to move same inwardly whenever the said outer or long memher of the said lever is raised, means for sealing down the said long member of the said lever before the said latch bar has locked itse 4. In a seal lock the combination of a top plate, having circular recess on its upper surface and supporting lugs with holes on its under side, a bottom plate, means for uniting said plates, said plates also provided I with orifices, a latch bar sliding between said plates and in the holes of the said supporting lugs, a spiral spring acting against sai latch bar to throw same in an outward direction, an 0 erating lever fulcrumed on the said top p ate, said lever having a 1011 or outer member, ring shaped, intended to tin the circular recess of the said top plate, and a short member acting upon and against ,the said latch bar to move same inwardly, means for locking the long arm of the'said lever 75 down, consisting of a wire passing through the orifices in the said top and bottom plates 1 and around the ring-portion of the long arm i of the said lever and means for sealing the. ends of the said-wire. '80

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York th1s 15 day of April A. D. 1908.

JAMES 'r. HUNTER.

Witnesses:

F. BARRETT, GEORGE A. WOLLENSGHLAGEB. 

